Alphabet’s online search giant Google said on Tuesday it would invest €1 billion in Germany through 2030 to expand its datacenter operations and secure renewable power supplies to run them.
Google will spend the money to expand its datacenter in Frankfurt and set up a new regional cloud computing operation centered on Berlin, as well as source power from France-based wind and solar operator Engie.
“As part of our broader announcement that, between now (2021) and 2030, Google will be investing approximately 1 billion euros in digital infrastructure and clean energy in Germany, Google has signed a first-of-its-kind agreement in Europe to purchase the clean energy that will help ensure that our operations in Germany will operate at nearly 80% carbon-free energy on an hourly basis beginning in 2022 …” said Google.
“Under the terms of the agreement we are announcing today, Engie will assemble and develop a carbon-free energy portfolio on Google’s behalf that has the ability to flex and grow as our needs change in the region.
“Jointly with Engie, Google will purchase electricity from 23 renewable energy projects in five German states.
“Some will be newly-built from scratch.
“Others (such as existing onshore wind projects that will no longer receive national subsidy support) will see their life extended, so they continue to produce clean electricity instead of being dismantled.
“By working with our energy suppliers to transform the way clean energy is delivered to customers, Google is supporting Germany’s decarbonization goals …
“Together with today’s announcements of a new cloud region in Berlin-Brandenburg and the expansion of our existing cloud region in Frankfurt, we are pleased to continue delivering one of the cleanest clouds in the industry to our customers.
“More and more companies are incorporating environmental, social and governance targets into their technology strategies.
“We’re committed to help IT organizations, and our users, take action today to lower the carbon emissions of their cloud applications.
“Because of this agreement, European customers will have another low-carbon option where they can run their cloud workloads.
“We are excited to add more projects like this in the coming years and continue to work on solutions to reach Google’s ambition to operate on carbon-free energy every hour of every day by 2030, all while supporting Europe’s green transition.
“Already today, two thirds (67%) of our energy needs are met with locally sourced clean energy on an hourly basis.
“We will continue to report on our progress, and to share tools and best practices with the wider industry to advance decarbonization on a global scale.”